‘Only tests 3 and 5 in nursing board retake’ -- Arroyo

Gov’t to subsidize exam

First posted 06:42pm (Mla time)
Sept 28, 2006
By TJ Burgonio, Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQ7.net, Inquirer

(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said on Thursday that the retake of the June 2006 nursing licensure examinations she ordered would cover only parts 3 and 5, the portions covered by the leakage of test questions.

She also said the government would subsidize the cost of the retake, which will be held before the next regular nursing board examination in December.

Arroyo made the pronouncements in a conversation with three nursing students near St. Jude Church in Malacañang as she was inspecting the damage caused by tropical storm “Milenyo” (international codename: Xangsane) to the Palace.

"Kasi 3 and 5 lang naman (It’s only parts 3 and 5)," Arroyo said when asked about the coverage of the retake.

The nursing students had approached Arroyo to ask her about her decision for a retake.

Defending her decision, Arroyo said a retake would be best way to restore the integrity of the profession.

"As of now, that's the best decision. There no way to determine who did not participate (in the cheating)," she told the students.

Arroyo’s statements appeared to address concerns of Senators who lauded her order for a retake but called on government to finance the test at no cost to the examinees.

"Thank God that she made that decision. She has to look after the integrity of the profession. I'd go along with her on the matter," Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr. said in an interview.

Senator Richard Gordon, who filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the leakage and demanded a retake from the start, agreed: "This is a step in the right direction. Even if there is cheating in society or in everything else that we do, we have shown that we can fix it."

"The world health care community will appreciate this move by the Philippine government because it shows how serious we are in addressing this matter," Gordon added.

"This should be free of charge to the examinees. This was not the fault of the examinees but the government's, who was the original source of the leakage," Senator Rodolfo Biazon, chair of the civil service committee that conducted an inquiry into the leakage, said in an interview.

The senator was referring to a recommendation by the Professional Regulatory Commission to the National Bureau of Investigation to file charges against two members of the Board of Nursing who were linked to the leak of test manuscripts.

The President issued the order for the retake after getting the consensus of her Cabinet during their meeting on Tuesday.

Senator Franklin Drilon, chair of the finance committee, said the President could tap into her contingency fund to finance the retake, saying a minimal amount was needed.